There are countless books about Hong Kong’s landscape, culture, attractions, business etiquette – you name it – but none are perhaps as charming, creative and kooky as Julie Stephen Chheng’s Adventures of Hong Kong.
Rather than being a page-turner, this unusual illustrated book is in fact a page-folder. Totally confused? Watch this video and all will become clear!
Adventures of Hong Kong is in itself an adventure, with layer upon layer of hidden discoveries. Skyscrapers fold down to reveal tramlines, trees, rickshaws and MTR stations, while a peek under the harbour turns up a gaggle of fishing boats and isolated thunderstorms.
“The fold is a very simple way to create different universes and organise a narration in different steps,” Chheng told Coconuts HK.
Although still without a publisher, the book was inspired by and created for Hong Kong indie film Dot 2 Dot, directed by Amos Why and released last year to great critical acclaim. The Adventures of Hong Kong simply appeared as a bit part in the movie’s bookstore scene.
Chheng grew up and lives in France, but has a Hong Kong mother and has visited the city numerous times, most recently last summer when she was invited to work as an artist-in-residence at Hong Kong Arts Centre.
While there are some easily recognisable elements of Chheng’s cityscape – such as the Hopewell Centre, the Peak Tram, the Fringe Club and the Star Ferry – the graphic designer insists the scene is in fact only a loose representation of the Fragrant Harbour, a amalgamation of both her and her mother’s memories.
“When I remembered Hong Kong, I saw the sea, the ferries, then the different subway stations and all the buildings. It’s a very schematic image of Hong Kong,” explains Chheng.
The book also comes with a little riddle, penned by Julie’s mother, Mary, which reflects themes in the Dot 2 Dot film of solving a puzzle, finding your soulmate and linking the past with memories of childhood.
Having to sketch out numerous prototypes by hand and conduct countless printing and folding tests, Chheng admits that creating the book was neither easy nor cheap.
“Every time I said to myself when I’m doing the last file for my printer, ‘Don’t ever do this again!'” she said.
It seems that the designer may be a glutton for punishment, however, as she plans to make a collection of books for other cities if she can attract interest from publishers.
Good luck to you, Julie. Happy folding. Just watch out for those damn paper cuts!
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